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Got chased by an idiot around a mall...

The other day I was parallel parking. Had lots of space between the pick up behind, spotted the spot about six cars ahead, put on my signal, slowed down so they would know my intention and they followed me right to my bumper. Stopped. All I could see was the Ford 4x4 grille in my mirror.

I rolled down my window and indicated that I was parking. They just sat there. There was even rim for them to go around being a one way two lane street. Now usually when I'm stick behind someone that is not moving I go around ASAP. Nope sitting there. Honks at me. Give the wave around. Honks longer. Start yelling out the window that I'm trying to park here and I'm not moving. Meanwhile, the entire time there is a red light behind us and zero traffic. Zero. This goes on for two minutes and I'm about to get out and kindly ask them to go around as I am parking and they finally go around windows up, fingers out and gums flapping. Stupid, just stupid.

You might be a redneck if you drive your 4x4 downtown and don't get it when someone is parallel parking.

I used to drive smaller cars (they just seemed to gravitate towards me) and I would always have 4x4 drivers trying to intimidate me. I wouldn't let them; dangerous perhaps but 99.9% of folks don't want to wreck their nice, shiny, jacked up pickum' up truck. Granted, I was a little more emboldened when driving my '89 3/4 ton Suburban, but not to the extent of some I've seen.

That being said, wish I still had the '85 LeSabre I used to own. It had slight front-end damage from a van driver who pulled out in front of me, so people would get out of my way too - something about an '80's lead sled w/o ABS barreling down on their rear causes late-model vehicle owners to change lanes.

Last week almost played bump-n-grind with an Acura who was desperate to get in front of me, only had about 12 inches of room to pass. He made it, but I gave him a nice long honk to express my dissatisfaction. Too bad I'm trading my van in tomorrow, I don't want to wreck my new ride.

Thanks for all the great posts - maybe we should have the mods change the tread title to "Road-Rage Support Group" or something. Be safe out there...

Raz
 
I have road rage bad....

I know I was wrong in this situation for my reaction but
Just last week someone tried to turn into my lane as we both made a 90* turn. Ok hard to explain.. They were in the wrong, and when they couldn't make it into the turning lane then rode next to me with a honk. That made my blood boil, they were in the wrong and honked at ME? I quickly left the turn lane caught up to them and rode their ass with the horn for a good while.

I have also been known to play "who likes their car more" when I'm riding around in an older vehicle and someone won't let me in.
 
I've found the best way to deal with road rage is to play "who likes to drive slower." I just slow down until the other guy gets tired of driving slow. It works especially well for tailgaters.

That's one of my favorite tactics as well. It doesn't always work though. I've slowed to a complete stop only to have the D-Bag stop behind me. Then I stepped out with a pair of large knives where they would shine in their headlights and taunted the driver to get out of their ****ing car.

THEN they left!
 
I passed a pair of cars facing opposite directions in a mall driveway one night. I didn't honk, flash my lights, or even look at them as I passed.

Still, one car decided to start with me. They pulled behind me at the exit, then beside me at the stoplight. But, I had the inside lane on a road that narrowed to one, a reasonably fast car, and enough disdain for human scum like this to force him into oncoming traffic (which I did). Then he decided to tailgate me.

So I pulled over to see what his problem was. Then the coward shot past me. Now my blood was boiling. So, now I was after him. He pulled over (perhaps expecting me to pass him), I pulled over behind him. He took off again (coward!), I renewed my pursuit. He turned down a side street. I pulled up to the edge of the street and waited for him.

10 minutes I sat there, then I went home. Never saw his lights behind me after that.
 
I passed a pair of cars facing opposite directions in a mall driveway one night. I didn't honk, flash my lights, or even look at them as I passed.

Still, one car decided to start with me. They pulled behind me at the exit, then beside me at the stoplight. But, I had the inside lane on a road that narrowed to one, a reasonably fast car, and enough disdain for human scum like this to force him into oncoming traffic (which I did). Then he decided to tailgate me.

So I pulled over to see what his problem was. Then the coward shot past me. Now my blood was boiling. So, now I was after him. He pulled over (perhaps expecting me to pass him), I pulled over behind him. He took off again (coward!), I renewed my pursuit. He turned down a side street. I pulled up to the edge of the street and waited for him.

10 minutes I sat there, then I went home. Never saw his lights behind me after that.

You might have an anger management issue. Put another way, this thread could have easily been about you.
 
You might have an anger management issue. Put another way, this thread could have easily been about you.

That happened many years ago. The only time I've done anything similar since was when a guy either intentionally or out of sheer stupidity backed into my car in a parking lot lane despite me honking loudly and flashing my lights to alert him I was behind him. There was a car behind me, so I couldn't back up.

After he hit me, he got out of his van, looked at my car, shrugged, then drove off. So I followed him (I wasn't getting stuck with the bill). The coward circled back and had his wife go find an officer (there was always at least two stationed at the movie theater). I left my girlfriend and her son in the car as I (not my girlfriend) went to tell my side to the other cop.

I explained that the guy backed into me and fled the scene. The officers inspected my car and determined there was no damage. I asked that they get the other couples information as I would have it looked at by my mechanic the next day, and would be in touch with the police dept if any damages were found.

I also said that had the tables been turned, and I, a young longhaired guy had hit the fat, middle-aged bald guy, I'd have been arrested. The officers of course denied this.

In both cases I was minding my own business until the other person started with me. I don't see it as me having the problem. I only pulled my knives (earlier post) after I felt threatened. So, I upped the ante.
 
That's one of my favorite tactics as well. It doesn't always work though. I've slowed to a complete stop only to have the D-Bag stop behind me. Then I stepped out with a pair of large knives where they would shine in their headlights and taunted the driver to get out of their ****ing car.

THEN they left!

I passed a pair of cars facing opposite directions in a mall driveway one night. I didn't honk, flash my lights, or even look at them as I passed.

Still, one car decided to start with me. They pulled behind me at the exit, then beside me at the stoplight. But, I had the inside lane on a road that narrowed to one, a reasonably fast car, and enough disdain for human scum like this to force him into oncoming traffic (which I did). Then he decided to tailgate me.

So I pulled over to see what his problem was. Then the coward shot past me. Now my blood was boiling. So, now I was after him. He pulled over (perhaps expecting me to pass him), I pulled over behind him. He took off again (coward!), I renewed my pursuit. He turned down a side street. I pulled up to the edge of the street and waited for him.

10 minutes I sat there, then I went home. Never saw his lights behind me after that.

I only pulled my knives (earlier post) after I felt threatened. So, I upped the ante.

Respectfully, you're an idiot.
 
That happened many years ago. The only time I've done anything similar since was when a guy either intentionally or out of sheer stupidity backed into my car in a parking lot lane despite me honking loudly and flashing my lights to alert him I was behind him. There was a car behind me, so I couldn't back up.

After he hit me, he got out of his van, looked at my car, shrugged, then drove off. So I followed him (I wasn't getting stuck with the bill). The coward circled back and had his wife go find an officer (there was always at least two stationed at the movie theater). I left my girlfriend and her son in the car as I (not my girlfriend) went to tell my side to the other cop.

I explained that the guy backed into me and fled the scene. The officers inspected my car and determined there was no damage. I asked that they get the other couples information as I would have it looked at by my mechanic the next day, and would be in touch with the police dept if any damages were found.

I also said that had the tables been turned, and I, a young longhaired guy had hit the fat, middle-aged bald guy, I'd have been arrested. The officers of course denied this.

In both cases I was minding my own business until the other person started with me. I don't see it as me having the problem. I only pulled my knives (earlier post) after I felt threatened. So, I upped the ante.

You realize you potentially brought a knife to a gunfight? And that by brandishing a weapon you gave the other driver justification for self defense?
 
I've noticed that some folks seem to get into a lot of dangerous altercations, while others almost never do. I can't believe it's totally random. For this reason, when it looks like someone has experienced more than an extremely small number of physical altercations or armed standoffs, I begin to suspect that they should consider changing their attitudes or their habits.
 
Except if you're getting into a car accident with them, instead of having a passing verbal altercation with no legal (or common sense) reason to stop, you've just raised the stakes to being forced to confront them to exchange information and having angered them further by causing them financial damage.

Not to mention the idea of using an intentional car accident to solve a difference of opinion is one of the more juvenile ideas I've heard lately.

Whatever. Take your logic a reason elsewhere. It is not welcome here.

Seriously though, we're only talking about minor fender benders. Look, if you want to follow me for a minute and scream bad words at me to make yourself feel better then buzz off, fine. I'm not riding around looking for a fight. But if you want to tail me from 6 inches back and follow me through a neighborhood after I turn off the main road to avoid you, be prepared for a break check. K? It's not as though I am taking my pistol out of the glove box and shooting at anyone. I don't even scream back at them. One of the two situations the guy got out and wanted to make a scene after taking a look at his front bumper. I simply threw him back into his car and politely asked him to sit still until the authorities arrived.

He got his car fixed. I bought my kids a jump house with the check from his insurance company for my "damage". Nobody got hurt. He learned a valuable lesson about manners.

Seems like a good story until you go getting all "lofty" on me. You are a lot of fun at parties, aren't you?

Noooooooooooooooooo....... No yer not.
 
You realize you potentially brought a knife to a gunfight? And that by brandishing a weapon you gave the other driver justification for self defense?

You're right. Letting someone like this force me off the road or kill me without me getting a chance to defend myself is definitely a better alternative. What was I thinking?

Better to call 911 and hope the cops arrive in time. Sure, no one has ever died that way!